Posts

Floaters

Image
Today, while lying comfortably on the beach, I noticed for the thousandth time those microscopic organisms moving in my eyes. When I observe them, I’m never quite sure what to think. They seem like invaders over which I have no power. I can look at them, yet at the same time, they feel light-years away. Every time I shift my gaze, I brainstorm ways to get rid of them, but I never find a solution. I was looking directly at the sky when they reappeared. In my experience, they become exceptionally noticeable when looking up at a clear blue sky or a white wall. It turns out this is just one of those peculiar, yet completely normal, quirks of human biology. Officially known as eye floaters—or myodesopsia, from the Greek for "fly-like visual effects"—they are rarely noticeable when we are young. However, as we age, these microscopic fragments accumulate until we suddenly feel like we’re being colonized by tiny alien invaders. It’s easy to imagine someone noticing them for the fir...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pickleball

Image
Pickleball is so popular across Southeast Asia that I assumed it originated in Thailand or Vietnam. So I was flabbergasted when a friend from Portland mentioned its roots were actually in the American Pacific Northwest. A quick bit of research confirmed it: in the summer of 1965, Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell of Bainbridge Island, Washington, wanted to play badminton with their families but couldn't find a shuttlecock. Improvising with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball, they lowered the net and created a game the whole family could play together. By 1967, the first permanent outdoor pickleball court was built, and the game rapidly gained traction around Seattle. Seeing its potential, Pritchard and a group of associates incorporated Pickle-Ball, Inc. in 1968 to market and supply the required equipment. Word spread quickly from the Pacific Northwest down to California, Arizona, Hawaii, and Florida. By 1976, the sport reached a major milestone when Tukwila, Washington h...
Post a Comment
Read more

July: 7th Lunar Month

Image
I recently learned from a friend that in Vietnam that the 7th lunar month (Tháng Bảy) carries deep spiritual significance and unique cultural customs. This tradition is rooted in Buddhism and originates from the legend of Maudgalyayana (Mục Kiền Liên), a disciple of the Buddha who performed acts of merit to save his mother’s soul from hell. Upon discovering that his mother, Thanh Đề, had been reborn as a preta (hungry ghost), he brought a bowl of rice to the underworld to feed her. However, driven by her intense hunger, his mother covered the bowl with one hand while using the other hand to prevent other ghosts from stealing her food. Because of this legend, the period is equally known as Ghost Month (Tháng Cô Hồn). According to traditional beliefs, the King of the Underworld opens the gates of hell during this time, allowing spirits to visit the earthly realm. While many return to their families, spirits without living descendants are left to roam the living world, lost and hungry. ...
Post a Comment
Read more